BUILDING CODES

& ENERGY EFFICIENCY:

HAWAII
Updated June 24, 2009

B
uildings account for almost 40 percent of the
total energy use in the United States and 70
percent of our electricity use, representing a
significant opportunity for energy savings. New con-
struction is the most cost-effective point in the life of
a building to establish minimum energy efficiency
elements. Building energy codes serve as a logical
starting point for comprehensive modern policies to
reduce energy dependence and extend our natural
resources. For the state of Hawaii, this first step
should be the adoption of the U.S. model energy
codes, the International Energy Conservation
Code (IECC) and ASHRAE Standard 90.1.
In February 2009, the American Recovery and Re- Monetary savings derived from codes increase con-
investment Act (ARRA) – the federal stimulus leg- sumer purchasing power, ultimately helping to ex-
islation appropriating funds for a variety of state ini- pand the Hawaiian economy.
tiatives – allocated $3.1 billion for the U.S. Depart-
ment of Energy’s State Energy Program (SEP) to as- BUILDING COMMUNITY BENEFITS
sist states with building energy efficiency efforts. As
The national model code, the 2009 IECC, offers
one of the requirements to receive these SEP grants,
flexibility to Hawaiian builders and design profes-
state governors must certify to DOE that their state
sionals, allowing them to optimize the cost-
(or applicable units of local government that author-
effectiveness of energy efficient features in their
ize building codes) will implement energy codes of
building products, and to satisfy the variety of con-
equal or greater stringency than the latest national
sumer preferences.
model codes (currently, the 2009 edition of the IECC
and ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007). A uniform building energy code across the state’s
five counties provides consistency for the construc-
Given this unprecedented opportunity to receive al-
tion sector and enables local jurisdictions to pool
most $26 million in federal SEP funding for building
limited resources and combine personnel to form
energy efficiency, it is in the state’s best economic
interests to adopt the 2009 IECC and Standard statewide enforcement and educational programs.
90.1-2007 statewide and to begin enjoying the bene- UTILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
fits of an efficient building sector.
ECONOMIC BENEFITS An energy code improves the energy performance of
all new buildings and reduces demand on power gen-
Bearing the highest energy prices in America, Ha- erators, therefore improving air quality.
waii consumers will save money well into the future
by reducing utility bills and minimizing the negative Electricity use is one of the leading generators of air
impacts of fluctuations in energy supply and cost. pollution. Rising power demand increases emissions
Retail and office buildings constructed to meet the of sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxides and carbon dioxide.
requirements of the IECC can be 30-40 percent Energy codes have proven to be one of the most
more energy efficient than typical buildings not cost-effective means for addressing air pollution
constructed to meet any national model standards. and other environmental impacts.
1850 M St. NW Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
www.bcap-energy.org
 A MODEL STATE ENERGY CODE FOR HAWAII
Aerial view of the ocean above Kahului, Maui, Hawaii
(Courtesy—DOE /NREL, Credit—Warren Gretz)
H
awaii has outdated energy codes for its
residential and commercial building sec-
tors of stringency roughly equivalent to the
1995 Model Energy Code (MEC) and ASHRAE
Standard 90.1-1989, respectively.
WHY UPDATE THE ENERGY CODE?
According to the U.S. Energy Information Admini-
stration, petroleum provides over three-fourths of
the Aloha State’s electricity generation, and over
90% of its overall energy use. With Hawaiians
bearing the highest energy prices in the nation,
energy efficiency will be a crucial tool for the state
to enhance its energy security.
Hawaii hasn’t updated its statewide code since
1995. When states regularly update and enforce
their energy codes (often coordinated with the three
-year model code update cycles), residents enjoy
the benefits of increased comfort in their homes
and savings in their utility bills.
Energy codes have been inconsistent across the
state’s five counties during the last two decades.
Even if Hawaii follows through with a proposal to
adopt the 2006 edition of the IECC, this code will
not achieve the 15% additional energy savings esti-
mated from adopting the 2009 IECC — and will
not meet requirements for ARRA funding.
BENEFITS OF ADOPTING THE 2009 IECC:
THE NATIONAL MODEL ENERGY CODE
The most cost-effective time to install insulation,
properly air seal walls, ceilings, and ducts, and in-
clude other energy efficient measures is during con-
struction of a new building or during substantial
renovation of an existing building. By mandating the
provisions of the current model energy code, Hawai-
ian homeowners and businesses can take full ad-
vantage of the benefits of energy efficient build-
ing practices.
Hawaii currently has an unemployment rate of 6.9%
and a projected job growth of –3.5%. Since the new
model code contains completely new requirements
for duct design and installation, adopting the 2009
IECC statewide will create jobs for an entire spe-
cialization within the HVAC industry.
Assuming a common practice equivalent to the 1995
MEC and ASHRAE 90.1-1999, if the state updated
its code to the 2009 IECC, Hawaiians would save
an estimated $33 million by 2020 and an esti-
mated $64 million by 2030 in energy costs
(assuming 2006 energy prices).
Additionally, adopting the 2009 IECC statewide in
Hawaii would help avoid 4.5 trillion Btu of pri-
mary annual energy use and annual emissions of
335,000 metric tons of CO2 by 2030.
For more information please consult the
Building Codes Assistance Project website at
www.bcap-energy.org.
1850 M St. NW Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
www.bcap-energy.org